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And in this corner, standing at 5 feet 7 inches against Gay Marriage, against Adoption by Gay Men and Lesbians, and weighing the political expediency of denying GLBTQ Americans more and more of their rights so he can get more votes from his alienated conservative "base", U.S. Senator from Arizona, Backer of the California Initiative to Deny Marriage to Same Sex Couples, and Presumptive Republican Nominee... John McCain!

Boo! Hssss! Shame on you!

And in this corner... Well, I'll save my disappointment with Barack Obama's stance on Gay marriage for another time.

Sigh...

Here's The Breaking News this week:

CA Supreme Court Rules on Bennett v. Bowen

SAN FRANCISCO – On July 16, the California Supreme Court issued an order in Bennett v. Bowen, S164520, denying a petition to remove Proposition 8, the proposed marriage ban, from the November ballot.

Equality California, the NationalCenter for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, and the American Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement:

“We’re disappointed, but this ruling does not affect the campaign against Prop 8 in any way. We have been focused on continuing with the election and moving forward, talking to voters and working in the precincts—asking Californians to Vote No on 8. Californians do not want their Constitution to single out people to be treated differently. We are confident they will vote NO in November to make sure everyone is treated equally under the law.”

That means that EVERYONE who is fair-minded and can vote HAS to do their part, to stand in solidarity for the civil rights of we, their Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning fellow human beings!

The fight is here.

The fight is now.

If we win this, they can't say it was "activist judges" or "procedural loopholes" or make any other excuses for how we won civil marriage rights for all.

Already, Massachusetts has put in place- just this week - the foundation for eliminating restrictions on out-of-state same sex couples from being married there. There is excitement about the economic boon of an influx of same sex couples coming to marry, both in Massachusetts and in California. New York state has said it will recognize out-of-state same sex marriages...

There is momentum building for freedom and rights for GLBTQ citizens, and that is exciting and wonderful.

The majority of people may not have been ready, but interracial marriage was made legal in this country by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. Should all those couples - all those families - have been made to WAIT those 24 years for the majority of voters to catch up?

Think for a second of ALL the mixed race couples YOU know. In fact, Barack Obama's parents (who, of different racial backgrounds, married in 1961) wouldn't have been able to marry in a number of states in the U.S. because of anti-interracial marriage laws! But in 1967, they had the freedom to go anywhere in the U.S. and have their marriage recognized as legal. Should they have had to wait until 1991 to feel like first class citizens?

Here's a message for those against same sex marriage, those for same sex marriage, and those who feel they have no opinion (can this category still exist?)

Make no mistake about it. We will WIN this war. There is no going back to the closets of history.

Our love is stronger, and will outlast this fight for our civil rights.

We have seen the future, and it is brighter and fairer and more just - and it is NOW.

Join the fight.

Donate Money, if you can, whatever you can.

Donate Time -volunteer with one of the many amazing organizations who are pulling together resources and strategizing this fight.

Talk to your family and friends about it - and explain how it's not about forcing religious ceremonies on anyone - it's about basic CIVIL fairness under the law.

Next month gay marriage will be legalfor out-of-state couples in Massachusetts. So no matter what happens it's only a matter of time for marriage equality in this country. For the truth about gay marriage check out our trailer. Produced to educate & defuse the controversy it has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com The truth will set them free… :)

About Me

Author. Blogger. Make-The-World-A-Better-Placer. Out to Empower LGBTQ Teens and their Allies. SCBWI 2015 Member of the Year. Represented by Danielle Smith of Lupine Grove Creative. All opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own.

The Small Print: How To Recommend Books To Include, and a Disclaimer

Don't see your favorite Book here? First do a search in the top left search box. Then check my "Books Still To Come" list. If you still don't see it, just click on "Contact Me" and leave me a note. I appreciate all your help making this blogsite a comprehensive resource! Also, when you've read one of the books listed, help other visitors out by adding a review.

Submission Guidelines: If you are an author or publisher, I do not generally accept review copies, since I don't really review the books featured on this blog - My goal is to let readers review them. All I need is a synopsis (including what's significantly GLBTQ about the book - so I know why I should include it here), a link to the author website or some online info or interview with the author, and the book's release date (as I don't post on books before they are available to the public.) Please make sure to include your contact info so I can follow up with you!

Disclaimer: Having said that, some of the books discussed on this blog may have been provided by the author or publisher. While some Links when you click on a book cover image will take you to a bookstore online (as one option of how you can get the book), I do not currently have any commission or credit arrangement for linked purchases. The opinions expressed on this blog, unless they're a comment from someone else, are my own.

Please, be kind and patient with each other, with yourselves, and, well - with me. Thanks! Lee